Featured Recipe

12 Layer Jell-O

This is the yummiest, prettiest dessert ever! It's so simple. It does take a while to make, but turns out great every time!

Ingredients:


6 3 oz pkgs of Jell-O
1 16 oz pkg Sour Cream
Ice Water


Directions:


Empty a package of Jell-O into one cup of boiling water and stir until dissolved. Divide the Jell-o in half. To one half add 3 T ice water then pour the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch glass baking pan. Let it set for 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Add 1/3 cup of sour cream to the remaining Jell-O and pour it over the (already set) Jell-O. Again, let it set in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Go on to the next Jell-O flavor and repeat steps until you have gone through all of the Jell-O packages. Let it set in the refrigerator for an additional hour. Enjoy!

My Favorite Recipes from Allrecipes.com

These are some of my favorite recipes. You'll love them too!
Just click on the name of the recipe you're interested in. If you'd like to keep it, print it off (the link sends you to a 3x5 recipe card all ready to go!). I'll keep adding to the list.

Meat

• Thai Pineapple Chicken Curry
• Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (add your own veggies)
• Almond-Crusted Halibut Crystal Symphony (well deserving of its name)
• Broiled Tilapia Parmesan
• Firecracker Grilled Alaska Salmon

Pasta

• World's Best Lasagna

Soup

• Delicious Ham and Potato Soup
• Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup
• Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Beef Barley Vegetable Soup

Vegetables

• Japanese Zucchini and Onions
• Asian Avocado

Breads

• Banana Sour Cream Bread

Beverages

• Hot Spiced Cider (Use ground cinnamon instead of the stick and don't keep the oranges in for too long or it will taste bitter. Instead of a coffee maker, just use a pot over the stove.)
• Amazingly Good Eggnog
• Luscious Slush Punch

Desserts

• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
• Award Winning Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Best Brownies (I use this recipe for the frosting. Try over Angie's Brownies! Better!)
• Fruit Pizza I

12 Layer Jell-O

This is the yummiest, prettiest dessert ever! It's so simple. It does take a while to make, but turns out great every time!

Ingredients:

6 3 oz pkgs of Jell-O

1 16 oz pkg Sour Cream

Ice Water

Directions:

Empty a package of Jell-O into one cup of boiling water and stir. Pour ½ cup of the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch glass baking pan. Let it set for 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Add 1/3 cup of sour cream to the remaining Jell-O and pour it over the (already set) Jell-O. Again, let it set in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Go on to the next Jell-O flavor and repeat steps until you have gone through all of the Jell-O packages. Let it set in the refrigerator for an additional hour. Enjoy!

Harvest Vegetables

This is a family adapted version of a Weight Watcher's recipe. The original called for a turnip so feel free to add that if you'd like (we found it to be a bit bitter). Simple but yummy!

Ingredients:

2 sweet potatoes
1 butternut squash
1 large onion
4 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice

Directions:

Peel and cube the potatoes and squash. Cut onion in half and quarter. Mix in olive oil and spices. Spread on cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 30-50 min.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
1/4 C butter
4 oz package cream cheese (not light)
2 C powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Cream butter and cream cheese together. Add powdered sugar. Mix until smooth. Add vanilla and milk. Mix until smooth.

Snowflake Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies are the best that I have ever made, seen and tasted. They are beautiful and come out perfect every time! I got this recipe last year and loved making them for neighbors for Christmas. Obviously, you don't have to do snowflakes. They'd be cute in any shape for any occasion, but the edible glitter it calls for just adds that extra touch!

Ingredients:

1 C butter
1 1/2 C sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp baking powder
Dash of salt
2 tsp vanilla
5 1/2 C flour
1 cream cheese frosting recipe
Edible Glitter (Michael's cake isle)

Directions:

Cream butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well until light and fluffy.
Add baking powder, salt, vanilla, mix well.
Add three cups of flour, mixing gently. Gently work in remaining 2 1/2 C flour, mixing as little as possible (hands work well at this point).
Roll out 3/8" - 1/2" thick. Cut shapes.
Bake at 375 for 6-7 min. until centers are higher than the sides.
Apply cream cheese frosting while cookie is slightly warm.
Sprinkle with Edible Glitter.

Root-Beer Pot Roast

I know, I know, sounds scary. You won't believe how yummy it is, though! This is my modified version of a recipe my sister-in-law found on allrecipes.com. I dare you to try it. It's fantastic!

Ingredients:

4 pounds beef sirloin roast
3 carrots, chopped
4 red potatoes, cubed
1 onion, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet dry brown gravy mix
2 tablespoons water
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
10 oz root beer

Directions:

Put roast, garlic and veggies in a slow cooker. Mix gravy, water, soups, and root beer. Pour over everything. Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve with homemade rolls and salad.

Garlic Chicken

An easy recipe that always hits the spot, takes hardly any prep, uses what's in the cupboard, and can be served with anything on the side (soup, salad, rice, vegetable, etc).

Ingredients:

2 T garlic
1/4 C and 2 T Olive oil
1/2 C bread crumbs
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Warm the garlic and olive oil to blend the flavors. Combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip the chicken breasts in the olive oil and garlic mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture. Place in a baking dish.
Bake for 30-35 min.

Lemon-Butter Broccoli

A great way to eat a great vegetable!

Ingredients:

Broccoli
3 T unsalted butter
1 lemon, zested and juiced

Directions:

Simmer broccoli for 6 min, until tender and bright green. Drain and return to heat. Add butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir until butter melts. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.

Black Bean Rice

A nice twist to an otherwise ordinary dish.

Ingredients:

1 T Olive oil
1/2 finely chopped onion
2 tsp cumin
2 T thyme
2 1/2 C chicken stock
1 1/2 C sticky rice (found in oriental isle)
1 can black beans (drained)

Directions:

Heat oil and onions. Saute for a few minutes and then add the spices. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add rice. Bring to a boil again then lower heat to a simmer. Cover. After 12 min., add black beans and re-cover. Cook another 6-7 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand until ready to serve.

Lime-Grilled Flank Steak

This is one of my all-time favorites. I love the taste!

Ingredients:

3-4 lbs flank steak
Olive oil
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 T cumin
4 T Montreal Steak Seasoning
2 limes, zested, juiced

Directions:

Coat steak with about 2 T olive oil. Mix grill seasoning with cumin and add the lime zest. Rub over the steak and place on a hot grill until done. Remove from heat and let the juices redistribute for a few minutes then cover with tinfoil to keep warm. Sautee onions and arrange them on a platter. Arrange steak on top of onions and squeeze lime juice on top. Serve with rice and a salad.

Delicious Citrus-Marinated Chicken

Ingredients:

2 oranges
4 garlic cloves
3 T olive oil
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Directions:

Preheat grill to high.

Zest the oranges. Put in a shallow dish. Juice 1/2 of one of the oranges and add to zest. Add garlic, olive oil, cayenne, pepper and salt to zest and juice. Stir to combine. Add chicken breasts. Toss to coat and let marinate for 5 minutes.

Transfer chicken to grill and cook on each side until done. Remove from grill and let rest for a few minutes.

Serve with Salad and toasted bread (and left over oranges on the side). Mmmmmm!

Blueberry Buckle

"Great with ice cream (Aunt Maxine)!"
-Annika

Ingredients:
3/4 C milk
1 egg
2 C flour
3/4 C sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 C shortening
2 C well blueberries (no water or juice at all)

1/2 C sugar
1/3 C flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C butter, softened

Directions:
Heat oven to 375. Grease a 9 in pan. Blend milk, egg, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt & shortening (filling) until mixture is smooth. Pour into pan and stir in blueberries. Combine remaining ingredients. Bake 40-45 min or until filling is set.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

"My mom gave me this recipe and it was a big hit. We loved it. I make my meatballs really small so that I can enjoy the sauce and rice as well. This freezes really well!"
-Annika Rau

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb hamburger
1 egg
1/2 C oatmeal
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:
Mix above ingredients and form meatballs. Place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients:
1 (15 oz) can pineapple tidbits (drain and reserve juice)
1/2 C green pepper, finely chopped
1/2 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 T cornstarch
1/4 C vinegar
1 C reserved juice from pineapple (add water to make one cup)
2 tsp beef bouillon
2 T soy sauce

Directions:
Add the sauce ingredients in a saucepan and cook until boiling and thickened. Add green peppers and pineapple chunks last. Put meatballs into freezer bag and pour cooled sauce over the meatballs. Freeze. When ready to use, thaw and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve over hot rice.

Easy No-Bake Cheesecake

"Jake loves this recipe. It's easy and wonderful! It's also easy to commit to memory... everything is measured in 1"
-Annika Rau

Ingredients:
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
1 C powdered sugar
1 C heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 graham cracker crust
1 can pie filling of choice

Directions:
Mix cream cheese and sugar. Whip cream until it forms stiff peaks. Add to mixture (fold it in gently until completely incorporated). Add 1 tsp vanilla. Put in prepared graham cracker crust and chill for an hour before serving. Add pie filling on top.

Caramel

"I don't know where I got this recipe (sorry if it's yours!), but it is so yummy! When I'm craving black licorice I add a few drops of licorice extract to this recipe and it tastes so good."
-Annika Rau

Ingredients:
2 C sugar
1 1/3 C Karo
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 C cream
3/4 C evaporated milk
4 T butter

Directions:
Bring sugar, syrup, 1 C cream, and salt to boiling point, stirring occasionally. Add remaining cream and evaporated milk gradually so candy does not cease to boil. Cook until candy thermometer reaches 240 degrees (soft ball stage). Add butter and continue stirring constantly until mixture forms a hard ball under cold water. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Poor mixture into buttered pan. When cool, cut into squares and wrap in wax paper. Cooling takes several hours or overnight. Place in refrigerator for faster results.

Molasses Cookies

"This is my mom's recipe. When I smell these baking in my oven I always think of her. Yum!"
-Annika Rau

Ingredients:
4 C flour
1/2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 C shortening or margarine
2 C sugar
2 eggs
1/2 C molasses

Directions:
Cream together margarine, sugar and eggs. Mix together remaining ingredients. Mix everything together. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Sticky Buns

"These sticky buns come from a family friend in Rexburg. She is known for her fantastic cooking so whenever I make these not only do I feel quite talented, but I always know I can expect them to taste amazing."
-Annika Rau

Bun Ingredients:
Water
2 T yeast
3/4 C sugar
4 eggs
1/2 C oil
2 tsp salt
8-9 C flour
1 C butter
2 C brown sugar
1/2 C Karo
2 T cream
1/4 C cinnamon and sugar
Soft butter for spreading

Caramel Ingredients:
1 C butter
2 C brown sugar
1/2 C Karo
2 T cream

Directions:
Mix 1/2 C warm water, 2 T yeast and 1 tsp sugar. Let sit for 5 min.
Beat eggs.
Add 3/4 C sugar, 1/2 C oil and 2 tsp salt. Mix well.
Add yeast mixture, 2 1/2 C warm water, beaten eggs, and 4 C flour. Beat for around 2 minutes.
Add 4-5 more C flour to make a soft, tacky dough.
Knead for about 5 minutes then put in greased bowl and grease the top of the dough. Cover with a damp rag and let rise 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Knead again and let rise 1/2 - 1 hour.
Divide dough into 4 parts. Roll out each part and spread soft butter on top. Sprinkle heavily with 1/4 C brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up and cut each roll into 12 buns. Put into 4 9x13 pans with the caramel poured on the bottom. Let them rise in the pans for 1 hour before baking at 350 for 15 - 20 minutes.